Freakin Unbelievable Burgers; DTW:Farmington HIlls

I decided to stop-in for lunch today. They are located in the olde BK facility on the east of side Orchard Lake, between 12 & 13 Mile Roads. The space has been rehab'd in Chipolte Chic, but w/greys, blacks, carpet and WiFi. The colors struck me as an oddly dark choice/pallete. Nor is the dining area is overstuffed with tables and chairs. Certainly a step-up from the Clown College motif that BK had for so many years.

The staff was engaging, friendly and knowledgeable. The facility was very clean. Think: Upscale Smash or 5-Guys, but with a beer & wine license.

The food? Given my change in diet (17 down, 53 to go), I opt'd for a simple burger with lettuce and tomato @ $6.18. You order and pay at the counter, and get a number on a stand. The food arrived after a reasonably short wait, suggesting that it was cooked to order. Hot food, served hot ... without being heat lamp hot. They have a LOT of burger toppings, sauces and cheeses available. Salads too. The food porn is fabulous.

The bun was the star of the show. It tasted good and looked good. The two beef patties were of the small, thin variety. A bit undersized for the bun. They had good beefy flavor, but no sear. Given my salt deprived diet, I don't know if the patties were over-salted; or, if I am merely noticing salt.

I was hoping for leaf lettuce - it was shredded. Thankfully, lettuce does not imply or deliver sauce. It was fresh. What more can I say about lettuce?

The tomato was a nice thick slice of winter tomato ... and had the typical winter tomato color, taste & texture. 'Nuff said.

The menu mentioned milkshakes, so I inquired. They are of the soft serve variety. Go next door to Jaws if you are seeking a proper milkshake or malt. When it warms up, we'll see if Jaws wins the Lemonade taste test. Reminder: FUB has beer and wine.

Sweet potato fries are also on the menu, but the menu mentions seasonings that are off-limits for me. Sigh.

Given the location and product options, I think they can survive, provided the owners are not expecting freakin unbelievable investment returns. Jaws is likely to suffer. I hope they can survive inspite of their kitsch.

So; is it a gourmet burger? Not for me. If I'm gonna blow my calories on ground, hot, dead cow ... I'm going two miles north to Red Coat Tavern.

I can agree with your assessment. I was there the other day and had the standard Freakin' burger - it had a sauce on it that reminded me of a Big Boy. Everything was fresh and well presented. The fries were highly seasoned. Some of the other types of burgers sound interesting - http://www.freakinburgers.com/index.p...

Besides the beef, you can get chicken breast, portobello, black bean burger, or salmon.

All in all it's right there with 5 Guys (much better fries) or SmashBurger. I've yet to try Red Coat but that's next on my list.